It is not uncommon for a student to complain about stress and their copious amounts of homework each night. For multiple students, stress has had a negative effect on their mental health.

“I sometimes cannot sleep at night, I put too much pressure on myself and have mental breakdowns,” sophomore Sydney Thurlow said.

In a 2014 study, the American Psychological Association reported that 30% of teens claimed to have been feeling sad or depressed as a result of stress.

“My stress can negatively affect my mental health,” sophomore Emma Leach said.

While some students may hold school and their coursework to blame for their stress, others have trouble with finding time for everything.

“My stress is caused by trying to fit school and softball and homework into my schedule when I still need to sleep,” sophomore Codi Thompson said.

The American Psychological Association reported that 42% of teens were not sure of how to deal with their stress or if they were doing enough.

“I don’t really have a safe way to reduce stress,” Thompson said.

While some students are still unsure of how to manage their stress, others have methods of coping.

“I will read while candles are lit and put on some aromatherapy stress relief lotion and listen to music,” Thurlow said.

There are many ways to help reduce stress such as exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is also advised to leave room for fun and relaxation to reduce high levels of stress.

“I will hang out with friend to help reduce my stress,” Leach said.

While students do report that they are stressed, they are less likely to cite any effect on their mental and physical health than adults. The American Psychological Association claims that 52% of teens do not report any effect on their mental health due to stress and 54% have not had their physical health suffer either.

“I’m in a lot of honors classes, and last year it was mostly English that stressed me out,” Thompson said. “So far this year none of them are exceedingly stressful yet.”